Note on Fruits

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Fruit

Fruit can be defined as the matured ripened ovary containing seeds. It consists of two parts, pericarp that is a fruit wall and is differentiated into three layers which are outer epicarp, middle mesocarp, and innermost endocarp. The fruit which develops without fertilization is called parthenocarpic fruit. Eg: banana. There are two types of fruits, true fruits which develop from the ovary of a flower and false fruit that develops from the fusion of floral parts with the pericarp. On the basis of pericarp and the condition of the gynoecium, fruits are divided into three types.

Achene: A dry, indehiscent, one-seeded fruit that develops from the simple ovary, with the seed attached to the fruit at one point only. Eg: Clematiis.

Nut: A hard, one-seeded fruit, generally formed from a compound ovary, with the pericarp hard or woody. The pericarp may be entirely or partly surrounded by an involucre consisting of fused sepals, bracts, and bracteoles. Eg: litchi.

Succulent or fleshy fruits

Drupe: A fleshy indehiscent simple fruit that develops from a simple ovary, with the layers of the pericarp distinctly separated. The endocarp which encloses the seed is hard and woody or stone-like. In most fruits, the mesocarp is fleshy when ripe (e.g. mango). Eg: cherry.

Berry: A fleshy, indehiscent simple fruit derived from a simple or compound ovary, having one or many seeds, with a soft and fleshy pericarp or most of it. Eg: tomato.

Aggregate fruits

Aggregate fruits consist of a number of matured ovaries formed in a single flower and arranged over the surface of a single receptacle. Individual ovaries are called fruitlets. An aggregate of single fruits borne by a single flower is known as etaerio. It is of following types:

Etaerio of achenes: It consists of a group of achene that develops from a single carpel of the apocarpous pistil. Eg: Strawberry.

Etaerio of follicles: The individual fruitlet is similar with that of the normal follicle and all the follicles are attached or aggregated to the same axis. Eg: Michelia.

Etaerio of drupes: It consists of a number of small drupes that develops from different carpels of a flower. Eg: Raspberry.

Etaerio of berries: Develops from different carpels, the apical parts of berries fuse each other and make a common ring. Eg: custard apple.

Multiple or composite fruits

It is a group of fruits that develop from the different flowers of an inflorescence. It is of two types:

Sorosis: It develops from spike or spadix, or female catkin inflorescence. Eg: mulberry

Seed

The plant seed is an organ found in plant shoot, attached to the stem, and originating from a flower. It is a structure that is formed by the maturation of the ovule within the ovary of the angiosperms. It is often described as a mature ovule. The primary function of seeds is the reproduction in which plants perpetuate themselves, mainly sexually. The seed is widely used in the deliberate production of seedlings, known as plant propagation. The seeds of angiosperms are enclosed in an ovary that develops into a fruit, such as a pome or a nut. The seed with endosperms are called endospermic and the seed without endosperms are called non-endospermic. Many angiosperms have evolved specific fruits for dispersal of seeds by the wind, water, or animals.